30 Local Leaders Join Two New Energy to Communities (E2C) Peer-Learning Cohorts

Thirty local leaders from across 25 states, territories, and tribes have been selected to participate in two new Energy to Communities (E2C) peer-learning cohorts. The cohorts, focused on electricity load growth and utility engagement, will bring together local leaders, energy experts, and community organizations to tackle critical challenges related to the evolving energy landscape. From July to December, participants will convene monthly to learn from energy experts and each other, exploring best practices, strategies, and tools for addressing energy topics.

Key Takeaways:

• 30 local leaders from 25 states, territories, and tribes have been selected for two new E2C peer-learning cohorts.
• The cohorts will focus on strategies for adapting to increasing electricity demand driven by emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and data centers.
• Participants will explore how grid infrastructure can evolve to meet new economic opportunities while maintaining reliability and resilience.
• The "Navigating Electricity Load Growth and Associated Utility Grid Impacts" cohort will focus on strategies for adapting to increasing electricity demand.
• The "Engaging With Electric Utilities for Successful Local Partnerships" cohort will equip local leaders with knowledge on electric utility regulation, core functions, and business models.
• Participants will gain insights into collaborative approaches for working effectively with electric utilities, fostering innovation, and advancing policies that support local energy needs.
• More than 200 communities have already participated in E2C peer-learning cohorts, accessing educational resources, case studies, analysis and modeling tools, templates, trainings, and facilitated collaboration.
• Jenny Sumner, the E2C program lead at NREL, stated that "these peer-learning cohorts represent an exciting opportunity for communities to deepen their understanding of the evolving energy landscape while building strong partnerships to navigate these challenges."

Statistics:

• 25 states, territories, and tribes have participants in the E2C peer-learning cohorts.
• 200+ communities have already participated in E2C peer-learning cohorts.
• 15 participants will be in each of the two cohorts, with 30 participants total.
• The E2C program is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and managed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory with support from four national laboratories.

Sources:

• US National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Contify.com
• DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
• Argonne National Laboratory
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory